ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 15, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PUTIN SENDS LETTER TO ERDOGAN
President Vladimir Putin of Russian Federation sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and confirmed his desire to pay a state visit to Turkey. In his letter, President Putin noted that Russia aimed to further deepen its bilateral relations with Turkey. Earlier, Russia had a stance in favor of the Greek Cypriot side at the United Nations Security Council prior to the twin referendums in Cyprus on April 24, 2004.
MODERATE EARTHQUAKE JOLTS BURDUR
A moderate earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted southern province of Burdur. Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute stated that the earthquake was centered on Yesilova town of the province. There were not any immediate reports of casualties in the earthquake which sent residents in the province out to the streets in panic.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TENDER OF 27 QUADRILLION TL CANCELLED
Tenders for tank modernization, strike helicopters and unmanned surveillance aircraft, three of biggest projects of the Turkish Armed Forces, were cancelled. At its meeting yesterday, the Defense Industry 2004 Year Executive Committee decided to cancel those tenders. American defense firm Textron's Bell Helicopter unit and Russia's Kamov were competing in Turkey's tender to purchase strike helicopters.
DENKTAS: ''I WILL NOT RUN CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS''
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said that he would not run his candidacy for the TRNC presidential elections to be held in the following year. Noting that there were experienced persons such as TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas, President Denktas said that they might be candidate presidents in the elections to be held in 2005.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY TO HOST WHOLE EUROPE TONIGHT
The 49th Eurovision Song Contest will be held tonight with participation of 24 countries at Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall in Istanbul. The Grand Final will be aired and broadcast live in all 36 participating countries. Sertab Erener, representing Turkey with the song ''Every Way That I Can'', won the 48th Contest. The event was transmitted live by 42 broadcasters over the Eurovision network reaching over 100 million viewers across Europe and beyond in territories as far afield as Australia.
YOK LAW PROTESTED
University directors and lecturers have held a demonstration in Ankara, Bursa and Izmir provinces to protest the Higher Education Board (YOK) law, which was adopted by the parliament and submitted to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for approval. In Ankara, university directors and lecturers visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ISTANBUL POLICE LAUNCH 34 OPERATIONS IN 25 DAYS
Police in Istanbul have launched 34 operations against illicit drug traffickers in the last 25 days. During 29 operations, 2.5 kg of heroin, 16,5 kg of hashish, 320 gr of cocaine and 377 Ectasy pills were confiscated, and 48 people were detained. Meanwhile, 92 kg of heroin were impounded and 18 people were detained in five operations against transit illicit drug traffickers.
BLAIR DUE IN TURKEY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will come to Turkey on Monday on a daily working visit. Blair will become the first British Prime Minister paying an official visit to Turkey after a period of 14 years. After holding talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Blair will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Issues such as Turkey's European Union (EU) process, Cyprus, Iraq and NATO Summit will be high on Blair's agenda.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CO-OPERATION WITH EUROPOL
The Turkish Police Department will sign a co-operation agreement with the European Police Office (Europol). Europol Director Juergen Storbeck will come to Ankara on Monday. The agreement will be signed on Tuesday. The agreement envisages co-operation in fight against terrorism, organized crimes, illicit drug trafficking, weapon smuggling and illegal migration.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BIG SUPPORT TO FARMERS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 2.8 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) subsidiary and 463 trillion TL loan would be given to farmers. Speaking at a meeting organized by the Turkish Union of Agriculture Chambers to mark ''Farmers' Day'', Erdogan said that agriculture is one of the prior sectors in the government's program. He said that they would also give 640 trillion TL under diesel oil support to farmers and 282 trillion TL support premium to farmers.
NO SOLDIERS TO AFGHANISTAN
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Turkey couldn't be indifferent to Afghanistan and immediate dispatch of Turkish troops to Afghanistan was out of question. Gul said that even if Turkish soldiers were sent, it was an issue related to Turkey's existence in Afghanistan not fighting.
DENKTAS GOING TO QUIT
TRNC President Rauf Denktas said he would not stand for presidential election and added, ''there are professionals like Mehmet Ali Talat and Serdar Denktas who can replace me.''
ACCIDENT OR ASSASINATION?
Turkmens' second man and Iraqi National Turkmen Party leader Mustafa Kemal Yaycili and his driver lost their lives in a traffic accident in Kirkuk. Early reports defended that Turkmen leader was killed in gunfire opened by U.S. soldiers.
EUROVISION NIGHT
Everyone caught his/her breath hours before 49th Eurovision Song Contest at the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall in Istanbul tonight. Athena Band will represent Turkey in the contest which will start at 10 p.m. Turkish local time. Twenty-four countries will compete in the contest that will be broadcast live in 36 countries. Athena said, ''we only think about winning the contest.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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YAYCILI DIE IN SUSPICIOUS ACCIDENT
Iraqi Turkmen Front's top official in Kirkuk and Kirkuk County Council member Mustafa Kemal Yaycili died in a ''traffic accident''. News saying that he was killed in gunfire opened by U.S. soldiers caused agitation. Sources said the car allocated to Yaycili by the Kirkuk Governor's Office hit a U.S. army's Hummer jeep on Kirkuk-Tuzhurmatu motorway due to ''high speed''. It is claimed that American soldiers had raked the car with gunfire before collision while United States denies it. In the event, Yaycili and his bodyguard Fazil Namik died. Meanwhile, Iraqi National Turkmen Party Executive Board member Necmettin Kasap who was seriously wounded was sent to Kirkuk Hospital. Yaycili was exerting important efforts for alliance between Turkmens and Arabs against Kurds in elections.
EU: FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTATION
European Union (EU) called on Turkey to exert itself on implementation on reforms. The newspaper reached the document that puts forward Europe's stance at the 43rd Accession Partnership Council that will be held between Turkey and the EU on May 18. In the document, Europe's pleasure with ongoing reform process in Turkey is expressed, but it mentions serious delays in implementation. Regarding fulfillment of EU commitments, the document says Turkey recorded progress in several fields but it is still in first phase in many issues regarding adjustment to acquis.
(UK-MS) 15.05.2004